A job offer for Pale Male

PM & pigeon - January 15, 2007
Photo by Lincoln Karim

I received the letter below and promptly forwarded it to John Blakeman. I had a feeling he'd know how to answer. and, as you can see in his response to Tyler, he did.


Marie,

I was hoping to glean some information from you about the feasibility of providing a roost for red-tailed hawks in the Oklahoma City area. I manage a feed mill for Cargill Inc. and we have something of a pigeon pandemic due simply to the large amount of pigeon-perfect food that is a by-product of our industry. We are looking for a clean, humane and environmentally sound method of deterring pigeons from our area and I was wondering if you may have any information that may give this project wings--as it were.

Any support you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

All the best,

Tyler F. Forve

Blakeman's response:

Tyler,

Marie Winn graciously referred your inquiry to me, a frequent contributor to her wonderful website.

Your approach to pigeon control at your facility is a laudable one. But unfortunately, red-tailed hawks seldom (except in Central Park and other concentrated city areas) ever capture or consume any number of pigeons. Even in Central Park, their control or diversion of pigeons is inconsequential. A resident pair of red-tails, at best (during the non-breeding seasons) will capture only a single pigeon a day. They cannot pluck off more pigeons than are being replaced by normal pigeon breeding, which as you know is profuse.

Most importantly, even if a pair of red-tails took residence at your facility, they would most likely then soar out into the countryside to hunt their preferred (and easy to catch) prey, field voles and mice. As much as we'd like, the red-tailed hawk won't divert or reduce your resident pigeons.

The only species that might would be a pair of peregrine falcons. I erected a peregrine falcon nestbox on a grain handling and processing facility here in Huron, Ohio, and the pair really caused apprehension with the hundreds of pigeons there. But even so, the peregrines did not really reduce any real pigeon numbers. Just as in New York City and other areas with both red-tails and peregrines, the pigeons soon learned to spot the approaching hawks and took successful evasive actions. In the case of red-tails, the pigeons just fly up and away, turning to the side as the hawk approaches. Any pigeon not paying attention is likely to be captured by the hawk. But most escape.

With the sighting of a peregrine, pigeons will remain on the ground where a falcon refuses to attack. If pursued while in the air, the pigeons will circle back behind the swooping falcon, making it difficult for a capture. I marveled for many hours as the peregrines in my area dove at local pigeons. I never saw a single one captured.

Therefore, neither red-tails nor peregrines will solve the pigeon problem. Pigeons and peregrines evolved together since the Pleistocene Age in the Old World. The peregrines can capture enough to feed themselves, but never enough to reduce or eliminate the population.

Red-tails are just learning to attack and capture pigeons. Because they are much larger and less maneuverable than the aerially adroit falcons, our big hawks are even less successful with pigeons than the falcons.

Consequently, neither species of hawk will be a solution to your pigeon problem. I'm not certain that there is one.

Sincerely,

John A. Blakeman